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Soil polarization for 98 days in 1985 resulted in a 91% reduction of weeds present in collard greens (Brassica oleracea acephafa L.) plots during 1986. Soil solarization was more effective in controlling weeds in collard green plots when compared to an application of Dacthal-75W herbicide in nonsolarized plots. Collard green plants grown in solarized soil showed an increase in yield and other growth responses. Soil samples from the rhizosphere of plants grown in solarized soil showed higher population levels of bacteria and thermotolerant fungi than from nonsolarized soil. There were significant negative responses in marketable yield and root growth of collard greens and in soil microflora in solarized soil in response to Dacthal-75W herbicide application. Chemical name used: dimethyltetrachloroterephthalate (Dacthal-75W).

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Combinations of solarized soil (SBS), bare soil control (BS), black plastic mulched soil (BM), row cover (RC), fungicide (chlorothalonil) and biological treatments (Bacillus cereus) were evaluated. SBS vs. BS treatments were main plots, mulch and row covers splitplots and foliage treatments split-splitplots. Application of either foliar treatment was superior to BS. Using a 1/2 rate of fungicide on plants from solarized soil treatments showed equal or comparable reduction of the disease when compared to tomatoes grown in BS with high rates of the fungicide. Combined treatments of solarized + BM, BM with or without RC and low rate of fungicide or biological agent, were the most effective when compared to BS + fungicide, indicating that integration of plasticulture and biological strategies can reduce early blight below the levels of commercial fungicide applied to tomatoes grown on BS.

An experiment was conducted to determine the influence of several synthetic mulches and one biodegradable mulch on the yield of `Crimson Sweet' watermelons. The experimental design was a randomized block design using VisPore rowcover and various mulches. The results showed that using brown mulch resulted in a significant increase in marketable numbers of watermelons. Total yield of watermelons showed significant row cover × mulches interaction. Higher yields were observed with brown mulch and VisPore rowcover. The total number of watermelons grown with mulches was significantly greater than the control.